What is the Indiana bag limit for largemouth bass?

The Indiana daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; 6 / day Ohio River main stem; 3 / day Lake Michigan IN waters. The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (10 on lakes; 6 on Lake Michigan); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size largemouth bass can you keep in Indiana?

The Indiana size rule for largemouth bass is Lakes/reservoirs 14 in min; rivers + streams 12–15 in protected slot (release 12–15 in, keep ≤ 2 over 15 in); flat 12 in min in the 13 Ohio-River-border counties + Ohio River main stem; 14 in min Lake Michigan IN waters; 15 in min Patoka, 16 in min Cecil M. Harden Lake.

Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Indiana?

Yes. In Indiana, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; Trotlines + setlines prohibited for black bass statewide; Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (IDNR).

Do specific Indiana waters have different largemouth bass rules?

Yes. 17 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties), Brookville Lake, and 14 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Indiana Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Micropterus nigricans

Last updated June 9, 2026

Indiana's largemouth fishery is dominated by the southern-Indiana USACE reservoir tier: Lake Monroe (10,750 acres — largest reservoir wholly within Indiana, on Salt Creek near Bloomington), Patoka Lake (8,800 acres on the Anderson River — recurring Bassmaster Open Central Division venue), and Brookville Lake (5,260 acres on the Whitewater River near the OH boundary). The Indianapolis metro tier — Geist Reservoir (1,890 acres on Fall Creek — Citizens Energy) + Eagle Creek Reservoir (1,300 acres west of Indianapolis — Indianapolis DPW) — carries year-round suburban largemouth. The northern Indiana glacial natural-lake tier — Cedar Lake, Bass Lake, Lake Wawasee (Indiana's largest natural lake at 3,065 acres), Lake Maxinkuckee, Lake Tippecanoe (Indiana's deepest at 122 ft), Webster Lake — supports a healthy lake-resident population. Indiana's rule splits by water type: lakes + reservoirs carry a 14-inch minimum + 5-fish daily aggregate across largemouth + smallmouth + spotted bass — one of the highest in the Midwest — while rivers + streams run a 12-to-15-inch protected slot (release all bass 12–15 inches, keep no more than two over 15 inches) within the same 5-fish aggregate. A flat 12-inch minimum applies in the 13 Ohio-River-border counties (Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, Dearborn) and on the Ohio River main stem (6 / day there). Lake Michigan Indiana waters run a 14-inch minimum + 3-fish bag under the Great Lakes Fishery Commission joint plan. Patoka Lake runs a 15-inch reservoir minimum and Cecil M. Harden Lake (Raccoon Lake) a 16-inch minimum; Lake Monroe + Brookville Lake follow the 14-inch lake minimum. IDNR runs an aggressive Florida-strain largemouth stocking program in southern Indiana reservoirs.

Compare largemouth bass regulations across all states →

Get change alerts

Watch Indiana Largemouth bass and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

Season

Year-round statewide.

Jan 1 – Dec 31Statewide
Open harvest year-round

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; 6 / day Ohio River main stem; 3 / day Lake Michigan IN waters
Possession: Two times the daily bag limit (10 on lakes; 6 on Lake Michigan); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: Lakes/reservoirs 14 in min; rivers + streams 12–15 in protected slot (release 12–15 in, keep ≤ 2 over 15 in); flat 12 in min in the 13 Ohio-River-border counties + Ohio River main stem; 14 in min Lake Michigan IN waters; 15 in min Patoka, 16 in min Cecil M. Harden Lake

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass
Trotlines + setlines prohibited for black bass statewide
Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (IDNR)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Indiana waters:

Lake Monroe
14 in min, 5 / day combined; largest reservoir wholly in IN
Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)
15 in min, 5 / day combined; recurring BASS Opens Central venue
Brookville Lake
14 in min, 5 / day combined; deep clear-water western IN reservoir
Geist Reservoir
14 in min, 5 / day combined; Citizens Energy water supply
Lake Wawasee
14 in min, 5 / day combined; IN's largest natural lake at 3,065 acres
Lake Michigan — Indiana waters
14 in min, 3 / day combined; Great Lakes Fishery Commission joint plan
Cecil M. Harden Lake (Raccoon Lake)
16 in min, 5 / day combined; USACE Parke County reservoir (Raccoon Lake)
Turtle Creek Reservoir
20 in min, 1 / day; trophy-bass cooling reservoir — highest bass minimum in IN
J.C. Murphey Lake
18 in min, 2 / day; trophy bass, Willow Slough FWA
Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area Lakes
18 in min, 2 / day; trophy bass managed-lake chain
Bixler Lake
18 in min, 2 / day; Kendallville municipal trophy-bass lake
Ball Lake
18 in min, 2 / day; Steuben County trophy-bass lake
Robinson Lake
18 in min, 2 / day; Whitley / Kosciusko trophy-bass lake
Kunkel Lake
18 in min, 2 / day; Wells County trophy-bass lake
Big Long Lake
12–15 in protected slot, 5 / day, max 2 over 15 in; LaGrange County
Ferdinand State Forest Lake
12–15 in protected slot, 5 / day; electric-motor-only state-forest lake
Buffalo Trace Lake
12–15 in protected slot, 5 / day; Buffalo Trace Park, Harrison County

Official source

Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Indianafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The largemouth bass rules on this page are sourced from Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife's official largemouth bass regulation page.

Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Largemouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Indiana Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Indiana trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is largemouth bass season in Indiana?: Year-round statewide. Those are the 2026 Indiana dates; always confirm against Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Indiana bag limit for largemouth bass?: The Indiana daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; 6 / day Ohio River main stem; 3 / day Lake Michigan IN waters. The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (10 on lakes; 6 on Lake Michigan); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size largemouth bass can you keep in Indiana?: The Indiana size rule for largemouth bass is Lakes/reservoirs 14 in min; rivers + streams 12–15 in protected slot (release 12–15 in, keep ≤ 2 over 15 in); flat 12 in min in the 13 Ohio-River-border counties + Ohio River main stem; 14 in min Lake Michigan IN waters; 15 in min Patoka, 16 in min Cecil M. Harden Lake.
Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Indiana?: Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Indiana?: Yes. In Indiana, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; Trotlines + setlines prohibited for black bass statewide; Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (IDNR).
Do specific Indiana waters have different largemouth bass rules?: Yes. 17 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties), Brookville Lake, and 14 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to Indiana regulations overview